John Madden and Steve Mariucci, two of the Bay Area’s all-time charasmatic and successful coaches/broadcasters, typically join forces to host a fund-raising bocce tournament each spring/summer. But right now we’re still in football season. And these two gift-of-gabbers chimed in on the radio to talk about the 49ers and the NFL playoffs.

Let’s start with Madden on his daily KCBS 740-AM radio show:

On Monday, in the wake of the 49ers’ 36-32 thriller over New Orleans, Madden said: “That’s the best game I’ve ever watched. It had everything in it. Great plays, and great plays when they were needed to win.”

On Tuesday, Madden said …

— If there is a Harbaugh-vs.-Harbaugh Super Bowl — or Har-Baughl, if you wish — between Jim’s 49ers and John’s Ravens, “they’d make a move about that kind of stuff.”

— On the 49ers’ Super Bowl chances: “They have everything in their favor. They’re at home at that’s a big advantage.”

— Madden was concerned about the state of the NFL in which prolific offenses can offset team’s lousy defenses (see: Packers, Green Bay). Madden prefers a balanced operation (see: 49ers, San Francisco). “There’s a purity about that I like,” Madden said.

— You weren’t the only one who’ve appreciated the hard hits in these playoffs. “Tackling has gotten so poor in the league, some teams refuse the collision sometimes,” Madden said. “The 49ers are one of the good tackling teams. Tackling is a lot better in these playoffs than I’ve seen in a while.”

— The final four of NFL coaches: Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin. “Look at the four coaches in it and if they have anything in common, they’re all grinders,” Madden said.

* * *

Now to what Steve Mariucci had to say on KNBR 680-AM:

— It sounds so similar: First-year coach produces a 13-3 regular-season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Jim Harbaugh’s done that. So did Mariucci in 1997. “I thought the 49ers would be playing the Packers, which would really have been similar to the situation we had,” said Mariucci, whose 49ers fell 23-10 at Candlestick to the eventual Super Bowl runner-up Packers.

— One of Mariucci’s memories from that NFC title loss (his lone appearance there): “I remember it rained. Isn’t rain in the (Sunday) forecast?” Yes, yes it is. “We just didn’t play our best game that day in the rain.”

— Mariucci on Harbaugh: “He’s himself. He’s not trying to be someone else.”

— Mariucci said he talked to Harbaugh during the lockout and Harbaugh was eager to get started on implementing his playbooks. But the lockout delayed that, and “I felt they would be really behind the 8-ball. He’s done such a great job with Alex Smith. That’s been missing the past eight or nine years, consistency at quarterback.”

— Mariucci was happy to see the West Coast offense return under Harbaugh — and Alex. “This West Coast offense is very good for Alex, and he’s proving Jim Harbaugh right for keeping him.”

— While everyone is hopping on Alex Smith’s bandwagon, Mariucci insisted he never got off it. “I’ve always been an Alex Smith fan. … Believe me, I really liked him coming out of Utah. He was undefeated, smart, athletic. He belonged in a West Coast offense because of his athleticism. You saw him scoot 28 yards for that touchdown Saturday.”

— On Smith’s future: “Hopefully he’ll sign a long-term deal around here and have some continuity. Jim was smart in saying — in watching film — that this guy can fit into what I want to do, and boy did it work out.”

— On the 49ers-Saints drama: “That was a classic game between two great quarterbacks, and whoever had the ball last would win, and Alex is a great quarterback.”

— In terms of the 49ers-Giants matchup, Mariucci brought up how these teams have improved since the 49ers’ Nov. 13 win and added: “This will be a fantastic game. Classic.”

Cam Inman

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if Alex beats manning he will face Brady, the icon. Talk about getting the monkey off your back!

49cents

No if and buts— the Niners (team) will be ready for the Giants. I am trying to separate my emotions from how I think. Last Sunday’s game was electrifying, very emotional and physical — JimH and special team coaches did their job and we witnessed the discipline and precision of the execution of the design plays. I am looking forward to Sunday.

Go Niners—all the way!!!!!!!!

snsf49erloyal

It was John Madden who said many times in his telecasts during the games, “defense wins Championships” IMHO, 49er defense is one of the elite defenses in NFL this year. They will win against the NY Giants by causing turnovers. GO NINERS!!

Frank

Mooch should be coaching somewhere…he got a raw deal in SF and was set up for failure in Detroit. Am enjoying him as an analyst on NFL-N…he’s head and shoulders above his contemporaries. We have to wonder where Alex would be today had Mooch stayed in SF.